George ligowsky and amos woebee



G. LIGoWSKY-a A. WQEBER. Target-Ball. y

` No. 225,621, Patented Mar. I6, |880.

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.fittest l UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LIGOWSKY AND AMOS WOEBER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD OF THEIR RIGHT TO DAVID FOLZ, OF SAME PLACE.

TARGET-BALI..`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,621, dated March 16, 1880.

Application filed September 5, 1879.

To. all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, GEORGE LIGOWSKY and AMos WOEBER, both of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Explosive Target-Ball, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to furnish atarget-ball that will afford indisputable evidence ot' being struck the instant a shot pene- 1o trates the same, and which, at the same time, will be perfectly safe to handle, and will be free from the objections urged against targetballs as generally constructed.

le accomplish this result by making the ball of a shell of clay or other light plastic material, which shell is coated internally with any fuhninatc that will readily ignite and explode the ball the moment the latter is pelletrated with a shot, the cloud of vapor or gas 2o resulting from the explosion affording occular proof to the spectators that a hit has been fairly made.

- The preferred method of construct-ing this ball is by joining` two hollow hemispherical 'z5 shells together so as to produce a complete sphere, the junction of these two members being further strengthened by means of a band glued or cemented around them, as hereinafter more fully described.

o In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of a comp1ctetargetball embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the two shells of which said ball is composed.

A B represent two hemispherical shells, of 'clay or any other material or composition of materials that is light and cheap and is capable of being readily molded or otherwise fashioned to the desired shape. These shells are `4o coated internally with any suitable fulminate, C, that will ignite or explode the instant the ball is shattered witha shot or other projectile. The margins of these shells are glued or cemented or otherwise joined together, after which act a zone or band, D, is glued around the complete ball, so as to strengthen the same and conceal said joint, as seen in Fig. 1. This band may be composed of cloth or thick paper or other material, and may be ornamented to 5o add to the appearance of the ball.

Furthermore, our ball may constitute part of a rocket, so as to ascend 'as soon as the latter is red off, or it may be projected from a trap in the usual manner; .butin either, case the concussion or jar attending the start of the ball, or the A handling or transportation of the same, will not cause an explosion, because the fulminate is internal. As soon, however, as a shot fractures the ball and drives the fragments of the latter inwardly the fulminate 6o instantly ignites, thereby generating a gas or vapor Whose expansion-insures the destruction of the target.

At the moment of contact a slight .flash is emitted, which is immediately followed by a dense cloud of smoke or gas, that aii'ords the most convincing proof of the target having been fairly struck by the shot or other projcctile discharged at the same. i

As this fragile ball is more readily fractured 7o than is a glass one, it is evident the use ofv the same lessens the charge of powder, and thus reduces the labor of the sportsman. Furthermore, the clay or earthenware ball will not cause the shot to glance aside and leave the target unbroken; neither will the fragments of the ball injure a lawn or grass-plot, as the small particles of clay are soon decomposed by the elements. In addition to these advantages the balls are of uniform weight 8o and size, and are capable of being readily painted, varnished, or glazed, which external coating may render the targets water-proof.

While preferring the ball herein shown, we wish it distinctly understood that our invention is not limited to Iany special shape, or to any number of component parts, as the target may be elliptical, oval, spheroidal, or any other desired form. Finally, the right is reserved of embodying in a future application 9o the compound shelland rocket referred to in this specication.

We claim as our` inventionl. A hollow target ball or shell composed of a suitable fragile material or materials, and coated internally with a fulminate that will explode the ball as soon'as the latter is penctrated with a shot or other projectile, substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. A-target ball or shell composed of a suit- 4roc able plastic material and coated internally coated internally with asuitable fulmnatc, C, with a suitable fulminate, for the purpose delas and for the purpose set forth. scribed. 1 I n testimony ofwhich invention we hereunto 3. A target-ball composed of two shells of set our hands. 5 plastic material united together and coated internally with a suitable fulminate, as and GEORGE LIGOWSKY' AMOS WOEBER.

for the purpose set forth.

4. A target-ball composed of two shells, A Witnesses: B, of plastic material united together and sur- JAMES H. LAYMAN,

1o rounded with a band, D, said shells being J. C. BOBISONLJr. 

